Hand protector



June 1943- R. M. EISENDRATH 2,322,710

HAND PROTECTOR Filed D60. 21, 1939 ATTORNEYS Patented June 22 1943OFFICE HAND PROTECTOR Robert .M. Eisendrath, Chicago, Ill., assignor toEisen'drath Glove Company, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 21, 1939, Serial No. 310,267

2 Claims.

My invention relates to hand protectors for workmen and the like users.

The object of the invention is the production of a simple, inexpensivehand protector adapted to be worn on either hand and affording a highdegree of protection to the wearer.

Another object is the provision of such a hand protector or hand guard,as it is sometimes called, which, while furnishing adequate protection,leaves the fingers and hand unusually free and capable of usesubstantially as if the protector were not being worn.

A further object is the provision of such a hand protector which isrelatively free and loose on the hand, thereby affording utmost freedomof movement of the thumb and fingers, and at the same time is held iplace with sufficient firmness that it will not slip around on the hand.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, taken with the accompanying drawing,wherein Fig. 1 is a view in the nature of a perspective showing theposition of the protector when itis on the hand, the visible portions ofthe hand being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking at one side of the protector whenit is lying in a flat position, the view being partially broken away toillustrate a structural feature.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view looking at that edge of the protectorwhere the thumb projects, the parts being in substantially the positionswhich they occupy when the protector is on the hand; and

Fig. 4 is a view in the nature of a plan view showing the pattern usedto form the palm and back portions of the protector.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, I provide asingle fiat pattern having a cut-away portion to accommodate the thumband so arranged that, when side edges are sewed together, the patternforms the back and palm of the protector. At the cut-away thumb portion,a relatively narrow protecting Web is sewed in such a position as toprotect only that portion of the hand between the thumb and palm whichmay be involved when an object is gripped while wearing the protector.The protector does not employ fingers, but, to position and support theprotector on the hand, three webs are placed between the overlappingpalm and back sections, preferably by means of a simple rivetingoperation. A tab projecting into the area cut away for the thumbcooperates to provide fastening means preferably of such a character asto be quickly tightened and as quickly loosened. The protector isdesigned so that thereis no requirement for shaping the back and palmportions which comprise the main body member or body portion of theprotector to fit the hand. The utmost of freedom is allowed whenworking, and the protector will fit either the left or right hand.Because it may be put on and taken off so quickly and readily, it may betransferred from one hand to the other by the user, depending upon thejob which he is doing. As an illustration, a workman on a bench may becarrying on several different types of operations, in only certain onesof which he may wish to employ the protector, and in a matter of secondshe may put the pro tector on to perform the operation on which he wishesto use it and in a fewseconds remove it, leavinghis hands entirely free.,The, protector may also be worn during the entire working period, forexample, by motormen, truck drivers, carpenters or others who may wishto protect the palm portion of the hand, leaving th fingers and thumbadequately free for performing operations which cannot be readilyperformed when wearing ordinary gloves.

Referring now to the drawing, I illustrate a blank II], which comprisesthe body portion, with a portion at the thumb area cut out as indicatedby the reference character I l into which a tab l2 projects. Thebody-portion ha the portions I3 and I 4 at opposite sides of the cutawayportion ll, either of which members comprises the palm or back,depending upon the hand on which the protector is worn. Looking at Fig.l, the part I3 comprises the palm portion, and the part H the backportion of the protector. The body portion is doubled on itself, asshown, and contiguous side edges are stitched together, as shown at H5in Fig. 1, thereby forming a closed member into which the hand may beinserted. A web I1 is sewed in the position shown along the lower edgeof the cut-away portion ll, thereby acting as a guard to protect theportion of the hand between the palm and thumb.

Separating tabs 18, three in number, are pro-- vided between theportions l3 and M at the position where the fingers project, these tabsor webs, serving as separators for the fingers, being secured inposition by suitable means such as rivets or staples l9.

In the form of fastening means shown, a button-like fastening member 2!is secured to the fastening tab l2, this fastening member having twoslots through which a strap 22 extends, the

wardly through another, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

A small metal ball 24, shaped to be readily deformed to grasp the end ofthe strap 22, forms a simple means for gripping the strap for thepurpose of closing the protector at the wrist. The protector is openedat the wrist by grasping the end of the tab 12 and merely pulling itopen.

The entire protector is very simply and inexpensively produced. Thepattern shown in Fig. 4 is stamped with a die and, without making anyattempt to shape it to fit the hand, except insofar as the patternaccomplishes this object, it is folded over and stitched. at [6. Beforeor after this operation, the web H is sewed in position, this web beingdesigned so that, when it is sewn in position, it takes a rounded orcurved shape, as the drawing illustrates. This causes it to lie snuglyagainst the thumb area. The tabs or webs 18 previously formed are simplyinserted by a quick riveting operation. The strap is. readily secured bya rivetingoperation, and the fastening member 2| also placed in positionby the equivalent of a riveting operation. After the strap has beeninserted through the slots in the member 2 l the ball 24 is attached andthe protector is completed. The order of operations need not beidentically as described, but, whatever the order of operations, it isobvious that the production is extremely inexpensive.

Among the advantages of the protector to users, other than the fact thatit can be purchased at a relatively low price, are its convenience, theability to use it on either hand, the extreme freedom which it aifordsthe wearer, and the full protection which it gives to the wearer.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

l. A hand guard for workmen and the like, comprising a body portionfolded upon itself to cover only the palm and back of the hand andextending slightly over the knuckles where the fingers join the hand,stitching connecting contiguous side edges of the body portion so as tolie along one side of the hand, said body portion being of flat materialand being cut away at the thumb area so as to be readily applicable toeither hand, aweb stitched to the body portion at the cut-away thumbarea in a position to lie fiat between that portion of the hand lyingbetween the thumb and index finger, webs secured between the palm andback of the body portion to separate the fingers, and means forclosingthe body portion around the Wrist at the region of said cut-awaythumb area, said means operable whether the guard is on the right orleft hand.

2. A hand guard of the character described, comprising a body portionfolded upon itself and stitched along side edges, said body portionhaving a cut-away area at the thumb area, a web secured to the bodyportion at said area to lie fiat against that portion of the hand lyingbetween the thumb and index finger, three tabs secured at their endsbetween folded-over portions of thebody portion lying against the pahnand back of the hand, said tabs lying between the fingers when the guardis on the hand, and means for tightening top edges of the body portionaround the wrist, said body portion shaped to permit free use of theguard on either hand, and without binding the fingers or joints thereof.

ROBERT M. EISENDRATI L

